Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Stevenson Opoku. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Stevenson, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
Earning a full-time living from my creative work has definitely been a journey.
I first got into content creation in high school back in Virginia. My initial inspiration was soccer phenom Cristiano Ronaldo. Soccer was my life and passion at the time and I had a huge obsession with Ronaldo. His style and flare caught my attention. I would edit highlight videos of him to study his moves and would upload the highlights to YouTube. From there I made other videos like piano covers and would upload them to YouTube as well. All the while I was getting into cinematography, video editing, motion graphics, and directing. My newfound passion was growing. By the end of high school, I’d developed an obsession with content creation.
After graduating high school, I went to college at Concordia College-New York where I studied New Media. My childhood soccer coach Mike Warhurst helped my family pay for school in New York, forever grateful. College was one of my first major milestones in my creative journey. College is where I really started to master my content creation creation skills. I made several videos as part of my major and for the college. I also did my first creative internship during this time at Nascent Art, an art studio in Manhattan. I worked very hard my freshman year and made as many videos as I could to develop my craft. What helped me most was creating in itself, and by creating I would learn through the process. College in New York was extremely expensive however and I was forced to transfer after my Freshman year unfortunately.
Following my freshman year, I moved back home to Virginia and transferred to the Art Institute of Washington where I studied Motion Graphics and Visual Effects. The Art Institute was also extremely expensive so I could only afford to go part time and I would cut grass with my childhood soccer coach Mike Warhurst to pay for school. In my downtime when I wasn’t in class or cutting grass I spent a massive amount of time, hours upon hours, learning motion graphics and graphic design on my own by watching tutorials online. My obsession was growing.
I eventually got an internship as a creative at the DC club/restaurant the Park at 14th from a job fair at the Art Institute of Washington. The internship at the Park at 14th freed me of my grass cutting duties. I told them my workload at the time and they offered to help pay for my classes. Interning at the Park was a major milestone for me. It opened my eyes into a whole new world of entertainment and I grew not only as a creative, but as an individual as well. I worked under the Park at 14th’s marketing lead Gloria Nauden who was also one of my first mentors and the venue owner Marc Barnes, who also had a big influence on me. At the Park at 14th, I made content featuring celebrities like Drake, Kevin Hart, Dwyane Wade, Common, and Wale to name a few. I also made content for brands like Dussé and Hennessy VS while at the Park at 14th, then later went on to work directly with the Hennessy VS brand ambassador Milton B. Yates doing Hennessy VS branded nightlife photography. I photographed stars such as Lebron James, Yo Gotti, and Ray J while working with Milton B. Yates and Hennessy VS.
Eventually my time at the Park at 14th came to an end and I was forced to drop out of the Art Institute of Washington due to finances, but I didn’t give up. I did an internship right after dropping out at an advertising agency, RP3 Agency where I got to design a Times Square billboard for their client Ripley’s Believe It or Not. My portfolio was growing. I said yes to every project that came my way and was on Craigslist daily on the hunt for creative opportunities. I soon got my first full time salaried job from a referral from my good friend Matthew Ford, at RTTV America where I worked as a graphics artist for a few of their TV news shows. Another major milestone in my career. During this time I also got an opportunity to freelance at the Washington Post on a project as a co-producer and editor from a referral from my good friend Cameron Blake. The project was on the Washington Wizard’s Bradley Beal. During this time of my life I did a tremendous amount of work. Create, create, create was the motto, and I said yes to everything that came my way. My skills and experience grew very fast this way and so did my portfolio. Having a strong portfolio was key for new opportunities. I also directed and produced my first short film during this time, Agape Love. I was a workaholic at this point, freelancing, working full time, and doing nightlife photography for different event groups in DC such as Tri-Corporate, DT Nation, among others, as well as for venues such as Opera Ultra Lounge, Shadowroom, Rosebar, and others.
In December 2015 I got fired from my job at RTTV America, after a crazy trip to New York with some old college friends and missing a day of work, my 3rd strike. I had to move quickly to maintain my life momentum. I repackaged my portfolio website and organized my resume as I prepared for the next milestone in my life, moving across the country to Los Angeles. Within about 30 days of losing my job at RTTV America, I was in Los Angeles.
In January 2016 I moved to LA with $750 to my name and a fresh canvas to a new life. My first week in LA, my good friend and music executive William Hoopes had me on one of his music video sets for Soulja Boy where I got to snap photos of the rapper. Following that I was then was living out of my suitcase for 8 months before I had enough stability to sign my first LA lease. From 2016-2018 I freelanced doing motion graphics and video editing for brands such as E! Entertainment, Beats By Dre, Kia Motors, BET, National Geographic, Hallmark Network, Fox Home Entertainment and Netflix all at top agencies such as Canvas Worldwide, Insync Plus, 24/7 Laundry Service, Edelman, Audience Network, Studio71, Crown Media Networks, and several others. I got these freelance jobs from different creative staffing agencies such as Creative Circle, Creative Group, 24 Seven Talent, Onward Search, and Syndicatebleu to name a few. My good friend Cameron Blake had been through the LA freelance circuit in the past, and put me on to the staffing agency route. On the hunt for creative opportunities, I co-produced and was the cinematographer for a short film, The Perfect Family, directed by Ron Sierra my first year in LA as well.
In 2016 when I first moved to LA, I got the opportunity to do photography work with international singer Wizkid. Working with and photographing Wizkid was a euphoric time I’ll never forget. I got the connection through Wale affiliates, Dan (Selassie D) and DJ Alizay. I worked tremendously hard those first 2 years in LA to continue to master my craft and I took a ton of photos. I also embarked on a new entrepreneurial endeavor working with social media influencers such as Dontemacc (Donte McQueen), Damon C. Rodgers, Lucas Coly, and Mike Khoury where I set up clothing stores for those influencers and would dropship merchandise to their followers. I also managed Dontemacc for a short while during that time.
In 2018 I settled into my current full time position at BLKBX Creative Group as a Senior Motion Designer where I make content for brands like Warner Brothers, Netflix, and Disney to name a few. I’m very grateful for my position at BLKBX Creative Group. I also continued to do photography part time as a side business where I shoot events, portraits, and lifestyle photos for different brands like The Lifestyle Entertainment Group, The Price Life, DJ Jae Murphy, L & Company, Triibe Viibes, JM Films, Human Nature Magazine, League Twenty Two as well as a few others. My photo portfolio features stars such as Future, Megan The Stallion, Lil Wayne, Ariana Grande, Princeton Perez and many others.
My journey to earn a full-time living from my creative work was very extensive, from doing piano covers in high school and uploading them to YouTube, to several internships and my first salaried job as a graphics artist in TV news, to moving to LA and working in the advertising/entertainment space. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t change a thing about my journey. All the jobs/internships I worked helped shape and mold me into the creative I am today and gave me a lot of experience. I worked very hard to get to where I am today and plan on utilizing my expertise to push me further in my career with the ultimate goal of helping shape a better tomorrow, today. I am grateful for all the help I received on my journey from friends, colleagues, and at the top, my mom, dad, and God.
Stevenson, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Stevenson Opoku and I’m a content creator.
I’m originally from Accra, Ghana and grew up in Alexandria/Falls Church, Virginia. I moved to LA in 2016 and currently work in advertising and entertainment as a photographer, motion designer, and video editor. I currently work full time as a Senior Motion Designer at the advertising agency BLKBX Creative Group. Outside of my agency life, I also work as a freelance photographer. I’ve been working professionally as a photographer, video editor, and motion designer for 10 years now.
Outside of my agency position at BLKBX Creative Group, I offer photography services shooting events, portraits and lifestyle photos. I have video editing, motion design, cinematography, and directing capabilities as well, but I only offer those services outside of my agency on very rare occasions. I think what sets me apart from other creatives is my performance first approach, my knowledge on beauty and perfection, and my ability to always put my clients first, within reason. Quality, quality, quality is my motto. I have a very sharp, relentless attention to detail and it manifests in my work. I’m also very easy to work with by being understanding and virtuous to the best of my ability. When it comes to client work, I’ll add my touch, but ultimately I do my best to bring my client’s vision to life. Not my will, but my client’s will be done, judiciously.
Looking back at my whole career, I’m most proud of the motion design work I did for Beats By Dre while I was freelancing at the creative agency Laundry Service. During my time at Laundry Service in 2018, I worked on a campaign for Beats By Dre’s Pop Collection under creative director Chris Kitahara and got to animate a few pieces for Beats By Dre’s social pages. The work was arduous, but the end results were very rewarding. It was also at a time when my freelance motion design career was picking up and I was getting more of a foothold in Los Angeles. Fantastic memory.
Some other proud moments I have are centered around my photography and my portfolio of photos. I’ve been fortunate to work with and capture some amazing moments that will live on forever through photos. Moments such as Christian Combs’ birthday in 2021 where I was able to capture photos of Combs, his father Diddy in a 3d hologram from Miami, as well as other big artists like Young Thug, Chris Brown, Coi Leray, Trippie Redd, Swae Lee, and Lil Wayne who were all in attendance at the celebration. Other proud photo moments I have are centered around shooting recording artist Wizkid in studio sessions while he recorded his album Sounds From the Other Side which had features from Drake, Major Lazer, Chris Brown, and several others. Another proud photo moment for me was photographing Megan The Stallion, Future, and T.I. at the Price Life Super Bowl event at the Nice Guy restaurant earlier in 2022. I was also able to capture photos of the late PNB Rock at that event, RIP.
The main thing I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know about myself and my brand is that I always look to deliver the best content and bring value to my consumers. I know my target audience and make sure I position myself to constantly provide value to my consumers. My awareness of the power of value I believe is one of my strongest assets. I’m aware of the price of attention so I always make sure the content I put out brings value to those receiving it. Attention and time are very valuable currencies, I believe them to be the most valuable in the world, and I do not take them for granted. I wholeheartedly cherish it when attention and time are given to me and always do my best to honor and respect it. At the same time honoring my own attention, time, and focus.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
In December 2015 I was fired from my graphics artist position at the TV news station RTTV America after a crazy trip to New York with some old college friends and missing a day of work, my 3rd strike. I still have a photo of my termination letter. I remember feeling freedom and excitement at the thought of starting a new life. I had literally just bought a brand new Ford Fusion Hybrid for around $30k a short while prior to being fired, and had to get it repossessed. I’d never been on the West Coast before, but I left my car, apartment, friends, and family behind to move to LA. I wasn’t phased though, my mind was already set on LA and the next chapter of my life.
Moving to LA was both exhilarating and arduous. I came to LA a month after getting fired from my job in DC with only $750 to my name.
As soon as I landed, I took out a rental car for the week, not realizing how expensive the deposit was for the rental, I was broke that first week! Soon as I walked out of LAX, yikes!
I was grateful to have 3 friends, singer Chris Jane, music executive William Hoopes, and tech genius Torey Emmanuel, who opened their doors to me for a short time, but I wanted to be on my own.
I spent 8 months living out of my extra large suitcase with my whole life in it, including my 24in iMac that my soccer coach Mike Warhurst gifted me back in DC. Truly grateful for my childhood soccer coach Mike Warhurst, a true life long angel. A couple months into the move, I was forced to sell my iMac unfortunately because I was running out of money. It pained me to sell it, because I received it as a gift and I cherished it, but I desperately needed the money.
I remember spending a month and a half in this AirBNB hostel in Hollywood, sleeping on a bunk bed in a shared room space. I met a lot of very unique people from all around the world at that Hollywood AirBNB and made a lot of great memories. However, I hated the living conditions of that hostel. Imagine around 20 adults sharing a 4-5 bedroom two story house that had no housekeeping care, super grimey! At that time I had just started working with international music star WizKid. It was a very surreal time coming home from Wiz’s mansion in the hills to sleeping on my bunk bed in a shared room space in Hollywood. I remember crying one night out of frustration and weariness wondering when I’d have enough stability to get my own space. I had such a great life in DC and now to where I was, it hurt.
Despite all that, I kept pushing with my career. I took my camera everywhere and photographed everything and everybody. Photography gave me access to virtually any and everyone, it still does. I also kept pushing my motion graphics and video editing freelance career, that’s where I made most of my money. Eventually I was able to move out of that Hollywood hostel, and was making enough money to rent rooms through craigslist.
After 8 long months in 2016, by the grace of God and resilience, I was able to sign my first LA lease, one of my favorite moments in my life! I finally made it in LA!
Is there a mission driving your creative journey?
I realize the power content, whether it be music, images, or videos, has in shaping the minds of people and I want to utilize that power to elevate and push the human race forward. Mentally, spiritually, and physically. That’s the goal and mission driving my creative journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: stevensonopoku.com
- Instagram: @stevensonopoku
- Facebook: Stevenson Opoku
- Linkedin: Stevenson Opoku
- Twitter: @stevensonopoku
- Youtube: Stevenson Opoku